The final season of "Breaking Bad" spent a lot of time tearing down its lead character, Walter White (Bryan Cranston) -... Show More »

The final season of "Breaking Bad" spent a lot of time tearing down its lead character, Walter White (Bryan Cranston) -- rightfully so, given all the terrible things he had done. In a perverse sort of way, though, Walt got the happiest ending he could realistically expect, even if it only went a small way toward redeeming his many sins. « Less

5/21

'The Office':

Although the show lost its way a little following Steve Carell's departure near the end of Season 7, "The Office" fo... Show More »

Although the show lost its way a little following Steve Carell's departure near the end of Season 7, "The Office" found its footing again in its final year -- and especially with the finale, which included grace notes for just about every regular character and a perfectly handled cameo by Carell. « Less

6/21

'Fringe':

In "An Enemy of the Fate," part 2 of the 100th episode, Peter (Josh Jackson, R) battles Windmark (guest star Michael Kospa, L... Show More »

In "An Enemy of the Fate," part 2 of the 100th episode, Peter (Josh Jackson, R) battles Windmark (guest star Michael Kospa, L) in the final and extraordinary battle for the fate of mankind.

How will the "Fringe" series finale stack up against these other classics? « Less

7/21

'24':

Eight very long days in the life of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) came to an end with the super-agent on the run, shot by a coll... Show More »

Eight very long days in the life of Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) came to an end with the super-agent on the run, shot by a colleague -- at his own behest -- helping expose nefarious presidential dealings and saving the world yet again. So, you know, just another day. But wait! He'll be back in summer 2014 with "24: Live Another Day." « Less

8/21

'Lost':

"Lost" fans who were looking to have all their questions about the Island, the statue, Walt's whereabouts and the Man in B... Show More »

"Lost" fans who were looking to have all their questions about the Island, the statue, Walt's whereabouts and the Man in Black's motives were left hanging some with the series finale, which instead focused on the show's characters, and how their connections to one another made them what they are. The emotional payoff was huge, however, and while fans will probably be debating this or that plot point for years, "The End" was, in our book, pretty satisfying. « Less

9/21

'The Shield':

Destined to be compared to HBO's "The Sopranos" in the annals of TV history, FX's harrowing cop drama "The Shie... Show More »

Destined to be compared to HBO's "The Sopranos" in the annals of TV history, FX's harrowing cop drama "The Shield" also wound down its run without a word. But while Tony Soprano's life was cut with a literal blackout, Vic Mackey's (Michael Chiklis) mask finally comes off for four lonesome minutes of guilt self-realization setting in. Mackey is alone in the world. But then, in the show's final moment, the office lights go down on his cubicle and the mask goes back up. A career-defining episode for series creator Shawn Ryan and star Chiklis. « Less

10/21

'The Sopranos':

Years after it aired in 2007, people are still talking about the ending to "The Sopranos." Creator David Chase left thi... Show More »

Years after it aired in 2007, people are still talking about the ending to "The Sopranos." Creator David Chase left things purposely ambiguous, cutting to a blank screen for several seconds before the final credits rolled. Did Tony die? Did life just go on? Chase has never said one way or the other, which leaves the subject open to debate forever. « Less

11/21

'The West Wing':

When you build a show around the workings of a presidential administration, the Constitution neatly provides the serie... Show More »

When you build a show around the workings of a presidential administration, the Constitution neatly provides the series with an expiration date. The Bartlett Administration came to an end when Jimmy Smits' Matt Santos was sworn in, and even show creator Aaron Sorkin was spotted among the crowd in DC. « Less

12/21

'Six Feet Under':

After killing off one of its main characters two episodes prior to the series finale, "Six Feet Under" needed somethi... Show More »

After killing off one of its main characters two episodes prior to the series finale, "Six Feet Under" needed something more than young Claire Fisher moving to New York to offer closure. In a quick montage backed by soothing electro-pop, the earthly finales of each one of the series' major characters is revealed, spanning over 60 years in a few short minutes. « Less

13/21

'Buffy the Vampire Slayer':

Filled with returning characters and violent confrontations, the end of Joss Whedon's cult favorite ev... Show More »

Filled with returning characters and violent confrontations, the end of Joss Whedon's cult favorite even featured the entire town of Sunnydale completely disintegrating. Here sisters Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Dawn (Michele Trachtenberg) share a moment of relief after their escape. « Less

14/21

'Friends':

Ross, Rachel. Rachel, Ross. For 10 years the sitcom practically revolved around whether these on-again off-again "friends" w... Show More »

Ross, Rachel. Rachel, Ross. For 10 years the sitcom practically revolved around whether these on-again off-again "friends" would ever wind up together, waiting until a much anticipated series finale to reveal their future. Three guesses on how that turned out. « Less

15/21

'Seinfeld':

Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer found themselves on trial for crimes against human decency in the finale of the "show abou... Show More »

Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer found themselves on trial for crimes against human decency in the finale of the "show about nothing." Though many of the episode's 76 million viewers were let down by the show's incarcerated conclusion, the ending offered an opportunity to revisit many of the series inside jokes and characters for a final time--at least until the next syndicated episode. « Less

16/21

'Quantum Leap':

In a beautiful, bittersweet finale, Sam got some answers about his leaping around in time and Al got to put right his o... Show More »

In a beautiful, bittersweet finale, Sam got some answers about his leaping around in time and Al got to put right his own wrong. Sam Beckett never returned home. « Less

17/21

'Cheers':

One of the most popular sitcoms of the '80s, "Cheers" saw its last call come in 1993 after 11 years. Known as much for t... Show More »

One of the most popular sitcoms of the '80s, "Cheers" saw its last call come in 1993 after 11 years. Known as much for the surrounding hype (which included a "pre-game show" hosted by Bob Costas) as the finale itself, the episode featured a return of Sam Malone's (Ted Danson) long time love interest, Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). « Less

18/21

'Newhart':

Television veteran Bob Newhart teamed with Mary Frann in this '80s sitcom about a writer-turned-rural innkeeper in an i... Show More »

Television veteran Bob Newhart teamed with Mary Frann in this '80s sitcom about a writer-turned-rural innkeeper in an increasingly quirky Vermont town. Voted the most unexpected moment in TV history by TV Guide, the show ends with Newhart waking up next to Suzanne Pleshette, wife of Newhart's '70s sitcom character Bob Hartley. "Honey, you won't believe the dream I just had," Newhart says. « Less

19/21

'St. Elsewhere':

Shown with producer Bruce Paltrow, St. Eligius hospital ended its televised life in a manner that still confounds fans... Show More »

Shown with producer Bruce Paltrow, St. Eligius hospital ended its televised life in a manner that still confounds fans today. After transitioning to a shot of one of the "doctors" coming home in construction clothes, the series ends on a shot of a snow globe held by autistic child Tommy Westphall. Containing a tiny replica of the hospital, some have argued this points to the entire series existing only in the child's imagination. « Less

20/21

'MASH':

The gold standard (at least from a ratings perspective) in series finales, the end of the 4077th came with the end of the Korea... Show More »

The gold standard (at least from a ratings perspective) in series finales, the end of the 4077th came with the end of the Korean War. The most watched episode in television history, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen" ended with B.J. Honeycutt (Mike Farrell, center) leaving a farewell note to his helicopter-bound friend, Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda, left). « Less

21/21

'Mary Tyler Moore':

Betty White, Gavin MacLeod, Edward Asner, Georgia Engel, Ted Knight and Mary Tyler Moore signed off in style in 197... Show More »

Betty White, Gavin MacLeod, Edward Asner, Georgia Engel, Ted Knight and Mary Tyler Moore signed off in style in 1977, when everyone in the newsroom (except for the clueless Ted Baxter) was fired. The episode was regarded as the "gold standard" of finales by one of the creators of "Friends." « Less